'We have been clear that we expect India to...' - Office of UK PM steps in 'Shoab Bashir visa issue' ahead of India vs England Test Series

The ‘visa delay’ issue with the young uncapped England spinner Shoaib Bashir has raised eyebrows ahead of the start of the India vs England five-match Test series. Notably, the youngster had to return UK after his visa issues remained unresolved; he was supposed to join his teammates in Hyderabad ahead of the first Test of the series. 

Meanwhile, the office of the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stepped into this matter after the 20-year-old Pakistan-origin English cricketer was ruled out of his side’s squad for the first Test against India.

“We have previously raised the issues British citizens with Pakistani heritage experienced” – Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson

Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson stated that the British government expects their citizens to be treated quite fairly by the entire visa process of India.

“I can't speak to the specifics of this case. But more broadly we have previously raised issues of this kind with the High Commission. We have been clear that we expect India to treat British citizens fairly at all times in its visa processes. We have previously raised the issues British citizens with Pakistani heritage have experienced. We've raised the issues about their experience of applying for visas with the Indian High Commissioner in London,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by BBC.

Amidst all this, England also announced their playing XI on the eve of the first Test of the five-match series against India. The Three Lions didn’t pick James Anderson in the playing XI of the series opener; in some other updates of the final XI of England, spinner Tom Hartly will be making his debut for England in Tests.

Here’s a look at England’s playing XI for the first Test against India:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, and Jack Leach.